A Chat with Hailey Hermida (11.06.26)
Inspired by the confidence and honesty of the female-fronted bands she grew up with, 18-year-old Hailey Hermida brings swagger, vulnerability and a sense of acceptance in her punk-rock melodies. We speak with Hermida about her new single, ‘OPPosites’, what music means to her, live shows, and much more.
OSR: At only 18 (almost 19, I think), you are rather young but have been involved in the arts since you were a young girl. I read that you began as an actress, so what was it like being a young actress? Also, why did you choose to focus on music exclusively as the years passed?
Hermida_ Hii! I loved being an actress, and I feel like having that experience so early on in my life really shaped who I am for better or worse! Acting is so much fun, but the industry is known to have a lot of rejection and dealing with that rejection so young was kind of difficult for me. I started writing music at 13 years old as a release for that frustration. Music became the forefront in my mind because with music, I didn’t have to wait for anyone’s approval. If I wanted to write and put out music, I could without waiting for anyone’s approval
OSR: What does music mean to you?
Hermida: Music to me is the ultimate form of storytelling. Whether you’re more of a lyrical or beats-based listener, music speaks to every person in a unique way. A song can be written about heartbreak, and the listener can take that message and relate it to a personal relationship, whether that be a romance, friend, family member, etc. I find that diversity so inspiring.
OSR: Many people believe that teenagers “don’t know what they’re talking about” if they release emotional, coming-of-age songs. At only 18, what would you say to these people?
Hermida: At 18 years old, growing up is kind of all you’ve known. I feel like once you’re older, you have a better grasp of what you think about the world around you and what you think about yourself. But as a teenager, you’re growing out of being a kid and growing into being an adult, and it’s really weird. That change is emotional, it’s exciting, it’s scary. And it’s something every person has gone through in their life.
OSR: How do you feel your songs represent you and the problems your generation faces?
Hermida: My songs represent me and the problems my generation faces. Growing up with social media, you’re constantly exposed to an overwhelming amount of information, which can be stressful as a young adult learning about life. You’re trying not to carry that stress with you while also dealing with the day-to-day pressures of school, work, friendships, relationships, and more. My music has touched subjects of real-world problems that women and minorities face, as well as the everyday struggles that many people experience. I feel like that’s why people can relate to my music so well.
OSR: You recently released the single ‘OPPosites’. What can you tell us about the song? Is there a particular theme or backstory?
Hermida: ‘OPPosites’ was a song I wrote when a lot of things were changing in my life. As you grow up, you may stay friends with the same people, or you may not. Sometimes, people simply drift apart or discover that their values no longer align the way they once did. This is kind of what ‘OPPosites’ is about. Although these kinds of changes are a natural part of life, when it happened to me, I was very upset. I wrote ‘OPPosites’ as a release of those feelings. I hope people my age can feel comfort in knowing everyone has their own story where they discovered a person close to them just slowly changed into a polar opposite.
OSR: Live performances are known to be transformative experiences. Which is your most memorable performance to date, and why that gig?
Hermida: Live performances are probably my favorite aspect of making music. My most memorable shows were definitely a festival I headlined last year called the Monrovia Music Fest and a show I did at The Whisky for Emo Nite. Monrovia was so fun because there were so many little kids listening in the crowd. They were all so excited about my stickers and beanies, and just dancing along to my songs. It made me feel so happy and excited to hopefully inspire younger people as well. I loved my Whisky show because there was so much energy that me and my whole band were emitting. It felt so electric and exciting. And funny enough, there was a mess up during that show, and we almost went over our time, so we had to cut the show short, but we ended up making it work, and a lot of people loved it!
OSR: What inspires you to make music?
Hermida: A lot of times, it will be something that happens to me directly. Whether that be a good or bad experience, if it shakes me in some way, I’m probably writing a song about it. I also get inspired by real-world issues. My song ‘straitjacket’ is about women having important rights stripped away from them, and I interpreted that feeling as being put in a straitjacket. I also have a lot of music in the vault that touches real-world issues that I’m currently working on releasing someday.
OSR: You released a video for ‘OPPosites’. What can you tell us about it? Also, why did you opt to release a video for this track?
Hermida: The visualizer was so fun to do. We wanted to make a video because I felt really inspired by the song itself and thought it needed a visual component so people could better understand how it’s meant to make them feel. The way it swaps between the dark brown background and the white background gave that opposite contrast I wanted the audience to feel. I had been watching the music video for 2hollis’s song ‘forfeit’ and was insanely inspired by it. I loved how chaotic and overwhelming everything looked. It made it almost hard to watch, but I couldn’t pull my eyes away. I hope people can feel that with my ‘OPPosites’ visualizer.
OSR: What do you hope people take from your music, and what do you take from it?
Hermida: I hope people leave my music feeling both inspired and relaxed. A lot of times, I’ll listen to driving and electric songs to get energy out, and the feeling after is so relaxing. I hope they feel inspired by the storytelling and, most importantly, that they don’t feel alone in their experiences, especially women listening to my music. I feel like, as women, we’re often told to be more lowkey and not be emotional, but I think what makes people beautiful is our ability to feel deeply. So why wouldn’t we allow ourselves to feel upset or feel sad to the highest degree? I think if you allow yourself to feel, then the clarity comes sooner.
OSR: What can we expect from you in the future?
Hermida: I’m releasing music very consistently and hope to release an album as I keep growing my audience. I’ve made over 90 songs, so I definitely have enough material to make that dream a reality. I’m also working on planning shows, so if you are in LA, don’t be afraid to stop by, mosh, and have a chat after. 🙂
OSR: Do you have a message for our readers?
Hermida: I hope this inspires people to take whatever energy they’re feeling, whether it’s good or bad, and channel it into something that brings them joy and makes them feel good.
Many thanks to Hailey Hermida for speaking with us. Find out more about Hailey Hermida on her official website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Soundcloud and Spotify.
This artist was sent to us by Shane Maurelli.
